Kane County Retail Theft Defense Law Firm

St. Charles Shoplifting Lawyers

If you have been charged with retail theft in Illinois, you need to seek counsel from a law firm with experience in theft laws. At Law Office of Glenn M. Sowa, LLC, we have the experience you need to navigate this particular area of the law. We will help you present the most rigorous theft defense possible in your specific situation.

What is Retail Theft?

Under Illinois laws, retail theft goes beyond simply taking something from a retailer without paying for that item. It also includes the following:

Altering, taking off, or transferring labels that determine the value of an item in a way that would result in purchasing the item for less than its retail value;

Under-ringing an item;

Removing a shopping cart from the premises without permission;

Falsely representing oneself as owning property or goods that you do not actually own; and

Using or having in your possession any device intended to shield theft detection.

Punishments for Retail Theft in Illinois

If you are convicted of retail theft in Illinois, you may face criminal penalties, civil penalties, or both. Civil penalties are liable to the merchant for full retail value of the item or items stolen, additional damages of up to $1,000, as well as court costs and attorney’s fees. If the person who committed the crime is a minor, their parents are responsible for these penalties. Additionally, an individual may be face civil penalties even if they have not been convicted criminally.

The criminal penalties for a retail theft conviction vary based on a number of factors including how much the item or items are worth and what they are. Additionally, if the person who is charged has been convicted of other crimes prior to this incident, such as forgery or robbery, the penalties may be more severe.

If you or someone you care about is facing retail theft charges in Illinois, contact the attorneys at the Law Office of Glenn M. Sowa, LLC as soon as possible. We can help you explore all options available to you in order to minimize the penalties you may face and the effects that this can have on the rest of your life. Our clients can be found in Kane, Will, and Cook Counties..

Law Office of Glenn M. Sowa, LLC — in Geneva, Illinois—is dedicated to defending the rights of people throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, including the cities of Geneva, DeKalb, Wheaton, Joliet, Downers Grove, Elgin, Aurora, St. Charles, Naperville, Batavia, Bolingbrook, Darien, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Woodridge, West Chicago, Warrenville, Winfield, Carol Stream and Lombard as well as Cook County, Will County, DeKalb County, DuPage County, Kane County, Kendall County and McHenry County.